The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-01-22
THE BLACK DIAMOND.
BY An ENGLISH EX-DETEcTIvE.
CHAPTER l.
THE BLACK DIAMOND.


time in "haunted house" and this
is how the matter came about
1t was the beginning of December
not the usually cold, dull month,
but IL bright CHEEKY one, which made
people look forward for a clear mer-
ry Christmas, when l received a
note from my chief ordering me
down to the office.
hurried down, and received the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. agueenough
in all l could procure, and so had
to be satisfied.
Colonel Graham had lately re-
turned from India, bringing with
him beautiful young wife whom
he had married in Calcutta.
All looked well for the colonel's
happiness. He was a rich man
the owner of Owtwaite Hall and
large estates. His career in India
had been most honorable, and the
Young lady whom he had married
was beautiful and apparently devot-
ed to him. What more could a
man want? Nothing. But yet in
the midst of all this happiness ter
rible spectre had arisen which had
clouded all, and that spectre l was
expected to exercise. For this pur-
pose | was sent down to 'Owthwaite
Hall in my usual disguise-that OF
a visitor.
| was received by Colonel Graham
in his library, and he explained to
me in rapid words the reason of my
being called down to his place.
"Mr Gerval' he said, 81 will be
plain with you. The jewels which
have lost are of great value. | am Il
rich man, and can bear the loss, but
it is the way the thing has beer
done. have tried every means tC
discover the thief, and to no pur
pose"
"Well, Colonel, you must now lie
me have a chance" l replied cheer
fully. "Tell me all particulars, ant
| will see what | can do"
eyes, yes l know you will d.
your best but you will fail. l an
sure of that before you begin, and S
shall not blame you for it. Iol
must know that duringmy residenc
in Indin | madea collection of som
rare and beautiful iewels-not onl,
Jewels to wear, as would be usual
done, but curiosities. These jewel
| have always kept safely put ava
in an Indian cabinet, the lock
which believe would defy the mos
experienced London burglar to picl
and yet night after night | am SUI
the safe has been tampered with
for with in the last four month
some dozen jewels have disappeare
Jewels of considerable value too.
"You have left the cabinet ope
at the time ?" l asked.
"Never. Beside, the lock clos'
with an iron bolt and steel spring
its own accord when not hel
back p
"Self-closing?"
"Certainly.n
"May l see this cabinet?
course you know that you must n
tell even your wife who l am ?"
"Oh, certainly In these matter
as in military one, secrecy is ever
thing. While here you will be +
ccived as my guest, and no one shi
know that you are here to detect
robbery"
"That is right Colonel and no
we understand each other, let us
and view the safe.
The safe was strange one-o
of the most beautiful pieces of Eai
ern workmanship | have ever seen
The whole thing was bound wi
steel j.: and although it looked lig
enough to be easily lifted by o
man, it was as heavy as Birmin
ham iron safe.
The colonel drew forth from
pocket a most curious-looking artit
made of silver, and this appeared
be the key for with it, in some m
sterious way which could not c
actly make out, he undid the loc
and the bolts flew back, the dc
opened, and the interios of the 81
= was shown.
Nothing but an Indian cask
which was opened in the same W
as the safe had been done, with
similar, but smaller, mysterious k'
The whole affair was splendidly g
up. and the locks made with tt
skill for which the Indians are
deservedly famous. Even my pr'
ticed eyes could not detect how t
colonel opened the cabinet, "A
therefore | freely admitted my q
miration of the workmanship.
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